LadyJ..thanks for the Dolly version. I love her. And I like her version. Here's my list. i am a concert ho and I am mostly influenced by the songs he sang in concert. Very few of his songs sound better on a recording than in concert. When I was making up my list I realized I am Clay's perfect little fan. I love his type of music. It's my type of music. All of my favorite artists are balladeers e.g. Luther Vandross, Marc Anthony, Marvin Gaye (well most people wouldn't describe him as a balladeer but that's what HE wanted to be and had to fight to put out some music of that type ha ha). A lot of the songs I love build to this wonderful crescendo that just pulls me in. 13. These Open Arms -- I can listen to two lines of this song forever. "And what if every one you ever loved was torn from the pages of your life, would you reach out for tomorrow or try to turn back time" My heart just melts every time he says "torn" with that little break in his voice. I have hit replay a thousand times just to hear that part again. I have no idea who sings the original. Never heard it. 12.
- Unlike most folks it wasn't Idol or even the single that did me in. I liked those but wasn't wowed. Idol version was just too cut up and short. It was seeing it in Greensboro live for the very first time. And then the next night in Greenville. I still listen to the Greenville version of that song. It wasn't perfect either. But deep voiced Clay. Holding out the long note. The drama of the final note. I was STUNNED.STUNNED I tell you. I remember just sitting there in complete awe.11. Broken Wings I loved the original. And I love this even better. Love the duet. Love her voice with his. Love the poetry. It's just a lovely lovely song. 10. Because You Loved Me - Is this a shock? ha ha. This is one of my favorite recordings from Clay. Why? Because I did my one and only slideshow with this song. The year I was unemployed and couldnt' give xmas presents I made a slideshow of the kids and gave it to my sister as a Xmas present This was one of the songs I used. I heard it over and over and over and over again as I pieced together that thing. And then when I was almost done with it, my computer crashed and I lost it and I had to do it all over. I know this song like the back of my hand. And man, I looked at it the other day. I hadn't seen it in YEARS and it made me cry. The kids are 13 and 10 now so seeing them as 1-6 year olds just brought back a lot of memories. I will always feel connected to this song. 9. The Prayer - Clay and Hannah - OMG, this was one of the best days ever. My lurker friend told me about this event and suggested I should get tickets because just maybe, MAYBE, Clay will show up. They were dirt cheap so I bought tickets to both nights. Not only was it a fabulous event but Clay did indeed show up on the second night and sang this. And while the whole bit is this comedy thing with laughter in the background - the two of them sang it perfect straight. I loved it. Hannah was my girl friend for a few months during the Spam run LOL. And they sounded so fabulous and had such a great reception. This is one of my favorite Clay events EVER. 8. To Love Somebody - Favorite song from IDOL. So happy to finally here it sung live. 7.
- As Fear I think said - very romantic song. And I loved it the first time I heard it. And then I saw this slide show with the First Couple and damn if my love for it didn't increase ten fold.6. Lover All Alone - He wrote it. The words are beautiful but so is the music. A perfect partnershp! 5. Suspicious Minds - Jukebox tour - favorite tour STILL - so many songs I loved from that tour. But this was the song that I fell in love with it. I hadn't heard the Elvis version before the tour. It was a different type of song for him. Not a ballad. No really the big bombastic notes. it was fun. I like that I have the recorded version though as the girls tended to be a bit shrill on the live versions. And here is where my childhood comes in. I'm a preachers kid. I spent much of my early life in church. And while I have as they used to say backslided - what I remember most from all those nights in church is the music. I was in the choir. I played the piano or organ in church services. I love gospel music. I love inspirational music. And Clay sang it with such a sincerity and passion and conviction. I would have been perfectly happy if he put out a gospel album. Which is why 2 of those songs are in my top 4. 4.
- This song for me is all about Clay's performance. El Cajon Good News JNT04 may still count as my favorite concert moment ever. When he gets to the part toward the end that goes "Oh I bring you good news... and he does those high note riffs..man he hits me right where I live.3. You Were There - From the first note to the last I believe. I love every last note of this song. But when he gets to the end it takes me right back to my childhood. I love it. He kills it. You were the Victor and the King You were the power in David's swing You were the calm in Abraham You are the God who understands You are the strength when we have none You are the living, Holy one You were, You are and You will always be the Risen Lamb of God 2. Tears Run Dry -- favorite song that never made an album. 1. As Long As We're Here -- favorite Clay song of all time. I love the words, the celtic beat, the change of tempo, the wailing - everything about it And that's it. I weep for some songs that just missed the list. One was actually on the list until I started writing this note but I felt Solitaire just had to be on the list. JMH, yes Geekette just helped me recover my password and I was able to download some things that I've lost over the years.